The City of Yelm’s Parks and Recreations department aims to give back to local veterans by inviting them, along with their families, friends and community members, to attend an inaugural Veterans Day concert on Saturday, Nov. 11.
The event will begin at 12 p.m. at the Yelm Community Center and will kick off with a rendition of the national anthem. Line Roy, the City of Yelm’s Parks and Recreation coordinator, said live musical performances set for the concert include Hogue & Moore band, Big Love Band, Dakota Poorman and Amy Daves.
Roy said the first ever Veterans Day concert at the Yelm Community Center was inspired to give back to veterans without them having to coordinate the event themselves.
“We were sitting in a meeting with some local veterans not too long ago, and we’re talking about different projects we do. One of the local veterans told me they have to plan their own Veterans Day ceremonies to thank themselves because no one else is doing it,” Roy said. “That was our inspiration to create this because, as a community, we should be thanking them, not leaving it up to them to throw their own party.”
She added that initial plans were to host the Veterans Day concert on the new concert stage at Yelm City Park, however those plans changed because construction is not complete. Roy said the city is still hosting the big concert as a thank you to local veterans, but it’s just on a different stage.
“It will still be a great time,” Roy said. “We’re looking forward to welcoming these veterans to the Community Center to celebrate what they’ve done for the country.
“I’d love to encourage everyone to come out to celebrate our veterans and to enjoy the food, beer garden, entertainment, kids activities and vendors,” Roy continued. “We’ve had great sponsors support us for this event.”
She specifically thanked sponsors Twin Star Credit Union, Prairie Hotel, Yelm Cinemas, Uptown Lounge, Tad Stillwell, J&I, Farmers Insurance, Steele Barrel Barbecue, Steele Clayton State Farm, Obey Credit Union and Rainier Valley Constructions.
Those who wish to attend can arrive at the Yelm Community Center starting at 11:45 a.m.
